It rejoices me to hear that you are recovering from your late serious illness. I hope it may please our heavenly father to restore you in perfect health & strength of mind & body to your country family & friends— I have very much wished to call & see you, but I knew I could not Have that pleasure— Besides a personal gratification I have other motives for wishing a private interview with you—which I have no doubt you duly appriciate— I believe it is among the first wishes of your heart to be a peace maker, and that you will on all fit occasions do your best to effect so desirable an object— It is perhaps known to you, that a most unfortunate difference has arisen between the families of your old friend Mr Cazenove & Mr Fowle—That the sons have had a duel which terminated in young Fowle's being very seriously wounded in his face, so much so that he will loose the sight of one of his eyes— Here the affair so far as honor in the opinion of the wordly minded was concerned ought to have rested. But Mr Fowle the father has without due reflection & of course indiscreetly published a pamplet giving an account, of the causes which led to the duel— This pamplett young Mr Cazenove has seen, and he has announced his intention to reply to it. This will produce a most painful paper war which will lay the foundation of a life hostility between the families if no more. All the friends of the parties & of peace & Harmony most deeply deprecate these consequences—and feel that such they will be, if a stop is not put to what has been commenced, that of writing agt & publishing each other to the world— It too often happens, that when parties begin to write agt each other upon a particular subject—¹ they do not confine themselves to the singleground of the immediate quarrel, but they collect all the past errors, faults & indiscretions of each other & proclaim them to the public— This I fear will be the case here.

     I am not an intimate with either of the families— But deplore the state they are in, bad as it is— It will be worse if not stoped.

     I feel it a duty I owe not only to the community in which I live, but, to a being who has a stronger & higher claim upon, me to use my best efforts to bring about peace & good will if practicable between these families.

     My personal influence with these gentlemen is so inconsiderable, that neither I fear would regard my advise were I to attempt to give it to them— Thus situated & under these impressions I have looked around² for some friend to whom I could unbosom myself, and who would be not only willing to aid in affecting my object, but who I have every reason for beleiving has considerable influence with one of the parties & for whom both have the highest respect. That friend I consider you to be— I think you may on this occasion be of service.

     Whatever you may deem it proper to do— Let it come from you as a spontaneous act.

     If your state of health will not admit of your doing more than merely to write a short letter to Mr C. A. Cazenove requesting him to suspend or to induce his son to suspend for the present his intended publication, or if he does publish any thing to confine it to the matter of Dispute & to be temperate in his language— it may have a good effect.

     The plan that I would suggest, is that the parties should agree to refer the grounds of their complaint agt each other to two or three discreet persons—who are not intimate with either & even not citizens of alexandria—and that the selection of the arbitrators, should be made by you or some other equally disinterested person—and that they bind themselves by their word of honor to abide by whatever these persons shall decide, & act thereafter accordingly.

     I hope you will excuse me for troubling you at this time on this subject, which I would not have done, except, I am fearful of the effects of delay—with affectionate & sincere regard. I am your friend